A 0.145 kg baseball is moving at 35 m/s it is caught by a player. What is the change in momentum of the ball?

1 Answer
May 19, 2018

#-5.075 kg# #m//s#

Explanation:

momentum = mass * velocity

where mass is in kilograms #kg#
and velocity is in metres per second #m//s#.

here, the initial momentum is #0.145kg * 35 m//s#,

which is #5.075kg# #m//s#.

the ball has a momentum of #5.075 kg# #m//s# when it is moving, at a velocity of #35 m//s#.

however, when it is caught by the player, it will not be moving. its velocity will be #0 m//s#.

multiplying #0.145kg# (or indeed any other mass) by #0 m//s# will give #0 kg# #m//s#.
this means that when the ball is not moving, its momentum is zero.

the change in momentum from #5.075kg# #m//s# to #0kg# #m//s# is #-5.075kg# #m//s#.